Vietnam has abolished the death penalty for eight criminal offenses, including corruption and political crimes, in a move welcomed by the Catholic community as a sign of growing respect for human dignity.
According to the state-run Vietnam News Agency, the National Assembly unanimously passed an amendment to the Penal Code eliminating capital punishment for crimes such as bribery, embezzlement, incitement to war, espionage, destruction of state property, drug smuggling, and the production of counterfeit medicines.
The offense of “activities to overthrow the government” was also removed from the list of capital crimes.
Effective July 1, the maximum punishment for these offenses will be life imprisonment. Those already sentenced to death for these crimes will have their sentences commuted to life terms.
In an interview with Fides News Agency, Father Dominic Ngo Quang Tuyen, a priest in Ho Chi Minh City and secretary of the Commission for Evangelization of the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, described the reform as “a step that gives hope.”
“A society of solidarity offers prisoners the opportunity to return and live a dignified life,” he said. “The Church teaches us that human life must be protected and respected because it is a gift from God, from birth to the end.”
“Every human being is created in the image of God,” Fr. Tuyen continued. “And people who have done wrong or committed a crime also deserve time to be rehabilitated and redeemed.”
Catholics across the country are praying for the eventual full abolition of the death penalty, in line with the Church’s consistent teaching against capital punishment.
Andrew, a Catholic layman, told Fides that the reform could promote restorative justice. “The abolition of the death penalty can help create a more just society, where people are given the opportunity to make amends and reintegrate into society,” he said.
“Especially regarding the abolition of the crime of acting against the state, this is a great step forward by the socialist state government in Vietnam, which generally seeks to limit forms of protest against the Party and government policies. This is a good sign, demonstrating the growing progress of Vietnamese civil society,” he added.
The Church in Vietnam maintains a robust prison ministry, offering spiritual, material, and psychological support to inmates. Priests regularly accompany prisoners and their families, fostering dialogue and healing through Scripture.
Capital punishment remains in place for 10 crimes, including murder, terrorism, treason, and child sexual abuse.
The government does not release official figures on death row inmates or executions, which are considered state secrets. Since 2011, executions have been carried out by lethal injection, replacing the firing squad.
